thyssenkrupp Uhde bagged a Front-End Engineering Design (FEED) contract from an affiliate of CF Industries Holdings, Inc. for a proposed urea liquor upgrade plant at CF Industries’ Courtright facility in Ontario, Canada. CF Industries, one of the world’s leading manufacturers of hydrogen and nitrogen products, recently highlighted the project as part of its strategic growth initiatives. Subject to a positive Final Investment Decision (FID), the proposed facility could increase diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) production capacity by more than 400,000 short tons per year.
FEED Study to Evaluate Proposed Plant Upgrade
Under the contract, thyssenkrupp Uhde will conduct the FEED study to evaluate the proposed urea liquor upgrade facility. The project aims to improve the utilisation of existing industrial assets and increase the value derived from available carbon dioxide (CO₂) resources. Nadja Håkansson, Member of the Executive Board and COO of thyssenkrupp Decarbon Technologies, as well as CEO of thyssenkrupp Uhde, said the company was pleased to support CF Industries in assessing this strategic growth opportunity. She added that the Courtright project could strengthen production capacity while creating additional value from existing assets through improved utilisation of CO₂ resources. She also highlighted that the contract reflects customer confidence in thyssenkrupp Uhde’s fertilizer and process technology expertise.
Improving CO₂ Utilisation for DEF Production
CF Industries operates one of North America’s largest ammonia production networks and continues to invest in projects that strengthen its manufacturing capabilities and address growing customer demand. The proposed Courtright upgrade project will demonstrate how process integration technologies can enhance existing industrial facilities. In particular, it will enable the productive utilisation of CO₂ streams that are currently underutilised in the production of diesel exhaust fluid. DEF is widely used in diesel-powered vehicles and equipment to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. By expanding DEF production capacity, the proposed project could support growing demand for emissions-reduction solutions.
Strengthening thyssenkrupp Uhde’s Position in Process Technology
The FEED contract further strengthens thyssenkrupp Uhde’s position as a technology and engineering partner to the global fertilizer and chemicals industries. Through its process engineering expertise and technology solutions, the company supports customers in improving industrial operations, optimising resource utilisation and developing production facilities. As per company press release, the proposed Courtright project also highlights the potential of process integration to increase production capacity and improve the utilisation of existing industrial resources. However, its implementation will depend on CF Industries’ final investment decision.
